Ents are large tree-like beings. They were made by the ValiëYavanna Kementári as protectors of the forests and plants, earning them the name "shepherds of trees". Ents have been alive in Middle-earth at least since the First Age. The Elves also had part in teaching the Ents. The Ent's language is Entish, which is rather long-winded, and therefore seldom used to say anything.
Female Ents are called Entwives. As they had different likes, the male Ents stayed in the wild forests, while the Entwives preferred open gardens. The Entwives cultivated their gardens, and also taught the young peoples of Men about agriculture. Later the Entwives were lost, as after Sauron had made war, the Ents could not find them anymore.